Ficus carica

Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

florapal.org

Ficus carica L.

Moraceae

  • Fig
  • Fig Tree
  • teen تين
  • fiqus ha-te'ena
  • פִיקוּס הַתְּאֵנָה

Tree

  • Disturbed habitats
Click Flora of Israel Online to view distribution
and other botanical details.

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Ficus carica L.

System/State Traditional
Complaint/Use
Activity / Interpretation
Traditional
Preparation/ Administration
Parts Used
Source
Dermatological

Baldness

Hair restorer

Prepare compress of leaves; wet in "qutran" (Pix liquida liquid tar is a dry distillation of various pine woods). (Admin. not specified.)

Leaf Z
Dermatological

Eczema

Anti-inflammatory

Use latex.(Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)

Latex Z
Dermatological

Mycosis (fungal infection)

Anti-fungal

Obtain latex/ juice by squeezing fresh plant parts & unripe fruit & apply to skin.

Aerial parts, Fruit, Latex Z
Dermatological

Psoriasis

Anti-inflammatory

Obtain latex/ juice by squeezing fresh plant parts & unripe fruit; use it to make a dough with barley flour & apply as compress.

Aerial parts, Fruit, Latex Z
Dermatological

Scabies

Scabicide

Obtain latex /juice by squeezing fresh plant parts & unripe fruit; use it to make a dough with barley flour & apply as compress.

Aerial parts, Fruit, Latex Z
Dermatological, Ritual /Ceremonial

Warts

Anti-Infective

1. Spread latex from fresh plant & unripe fruit onto wart.(Z)
2. Squeeze milky sap secreted from stem & apply to affected area; repeat daily until improvement. (B)
3. Ritual /Ceremonial use: Make cuts on fresh twig equal to the number of a patient`s warts; leave twig to dry; when it dries the warts will disappear. (Z)

Aerial parts, Branch /twig, Fruit, Latex, Stem (milky sap) Z, B
Endocrine/Metabolic

High cholesterol

Hypocholesterolemic

Decoct leaves & drink 3 cups x 2/day.

Leaf B
Gastrointestinal

Aid digestion

Stomachic

Eat (dried) fruit

Fruit B
Gastrointestinal

Chronic constipation/ regulate bowel movements

Laxative

1. Eat (dried) fruit alone
2. Eat dried fruit + juice of one of the following plants dripped onto it: (i)"mahmoudiya" (Convolvulus scammonia), or (ii) "halablub" (Euphorbia sp.), or (iii) "faqus himar" (Ecballium elaterium), or (iv) carob honey (Ceratonia siliqua) + cow`s milk.

Fruit Z
Gastrointestinal

Chronic stomach ache

Carminative

Mix dried, powdered leaves + boiled honey + soft-boiled egg & eat mornings.

Leaf Z
Gastrointestinal

Constipation

Laxative

Eat fruit.

Fruit B
Gastrointestinal

Diarrhea

Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal

Boil dried fruit in water & drink x3 cups /day.

Fruit Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract

Diuretic

Diuretic

Decoct dried fruit & drink all day instead of water.

Fruit Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract

Kidney stones

Anti-lithic

Decoct leaves & drink 1 cup x /2day.

Leaf B
Opthalmic

Eye disease

Non-specific

Massage eyes with fig leaves (See CAUTIONS), then spread almond oil & a compress of chamomile flowers.

Leaf Z
Oral Health

Toothache

Analgesic

1. Apply latex (milky fluid) from unripe fruit onto tooth.
2. Boil leaves in vinegar, cool & gargle after eating or as needed.

Latex, Leaf Z
Respiratory

Asthma

Anti-asthmatic

Decoct leaves & drink 2 cups x2/day.

Leaf B
Respiratory

Cough/ soften throat

Anti-tussive, Demulcent

1. Decoct dried fruit in water & drink x3 cups/day.
2. Cook dried figs in water + inflorescence of "balasan" (Sambucus nigra) & drink the water.

Fruit Z
Venoms, Bites & Stings

Scorpion sting

Anti-venom

Obtain latex/ juice by squeezing fresh plant parts & unripe fruit & apply to sting.

Aerial parts, Fruit, Latex Z
Women`s Health

Exhaust (stop) menstrual flow

Emmenagogue

Decoct dried fruit in water & drink 1 full glass x3/day.

Fruit Z
Women`s Health

Induce abortion

Abortifacient

Decoct dried fruit in water & drink x1 full glass of decoction while sitting in hot bath for 15 min.

Fruit Z
Women`s Health

Stop uterine haemorrhage

Haemostatic

Heat powdered dried fruit in oven, wrap in gauze to make vaginal suppository & insert.

Fruit Z
Wound Healing

Burn from sun or fire

Vulnerary

Mix latex of unripe fruit + barley flour & apply to burned area.

Latex Z
Wound Healing

Soften & open a closed lesion/ open & dry-up a suppurative lesion

Anti-Infective, Vulnerary

1. Apply leaves as compress on closed lesion to soften & open it.
2. Spread fig honey (or date honey) over suppurative wound (to open & dry it up).

Leaf Z

Other Uses

Ficus carica L.

System/State Complaint / Use Activity / Interpretation
Traditional
Preparation/Administration
Parts Used
Source
Cosmetic

Dye hair black

Dye

Cook leaves of black figs + black mulberries + vine leaves & use to wash hair.

Leaf Z

The authors of FLORAPALE, (Flora Palaestina Ethnobotanical) web site do not take responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants described here. Always seek advice from a health professional before using a plant medicinally or for other purposes. See DISCLAIMER.

Notes

The latex is a milky juice which is part of the sap, & is a natural sticky polymer exuding from different plant parts containing various phytochemicals etc.

Cautions

The latex (milky exudate) of Ficus carica can cause conjunctivitis if in contact with eyes & phytophotodermatitis, a potentially serious skin inflammation after exposed to ultraviolet light. Psoralens in figs in very high doses is reported to cause photodermatitis in preganacy.